Silva's License Revoked for 1 Year, Fined for Altering Drug Screen

UFC light heavyweight contender Thiago
Silva (Pictured) on Thursday had his fight license revoked for
one year and was fined $33,750 by the Nevada State Athletic
Commission for tampering with his UFC
125 drug screen

The commission ruled that Silva's license will be revoked for one
year from his Jan. 1 fight date and that the fighter must fork over
25 percent of his $55,000 fight purse ($13,750), as well as $20,000
of a $55,000 win bonus that he earned for dominating Brandon Vera
at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. That win has been
changed to a no contest on Silva’s record. The earliest he will be
allowed to reapply for a fight license is Jan. 2, 2012.

After Silva’s “A” test sample was flagged for banned substances by
the commission following UFC 125, the fighter’s “B” sample was then
tested. An inconclusive outcome resulted, and the NSAC filed a
complaint against Silva, alleging that his sample was “not
consistent with human urine” and therefore must have been
altered.

One day after the commission filed its complaint, Silva issued a
statement admitting his guilt in the matter.

“I re-injured my back 45 days before the fight with Brandon Vera.
After not fighting for a year, I made the decision to not pull out
of the fight,” wrote Silva. “I also decided that the only way I
could continue with the fight was to take injections in my back and
spine that contained substances prohibited by the Nevada Athletic
Commission. I also made the decision to use a product to hide the
presence of these substances in a urine test.”

A representative of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., Silva
went undefeated through his first 13 professional contests,
including four straight victories inside the Octagon. Silva hit a
rough patch in 2009, however, going just 1-2 in the last two years.
His UFC record now stands at 5-2, with one no contest. Regarded as
one of the heaviest hitters at 205 pounds, Silva’s only UFC losses
have come to former champions Lyoto
Machida and Rashad
Evans.

Editor's note: This item was updated at 4:18 p.m. ET after
Sherdog.com incorrectly reported that Silva was suspended one year
by the NSAC; in fact, the commission has revoked Silva's fight
license.